Remember and Honor

He just wanted to get the day over with. Sneaking a look at his watch he calculated five more minutes to go before the cemetery gates could be closed for the day. In full dress uniform on a hot Texas day, with humidity to match, he was ready for a cold drink. He saw the car pull into the drive, a looking like new, mint-condition ’69 or ’70 Cadillac Deville, and it entered the parking lot at a snail’s pace. An old lady, weighed down with flowers, slowly got out of the car, steadying herself with a cane. The thought came unwanted: ‘She’s going to spend an hour and I’m ready to get out of here right now!’ But for this day, his duty was to assist anyone coming to the cemetery. He knew that Kevin, his companion soldier on duty, would lock the ‘in’ gate and if he could hurry the old lady along they could still get out of there at a decent time. “Ma’am, may I assist you in any way?” he asked. She handed him the flowers as they boarded the golf cart used to get around the grounds. She said she needed to visit a few old Marines and at eighty-five years of age it might just be the last time. She noticed he was a long-time campaigner himself by the ribbons on his breast. “Wounded in action I see. Well done marine!” at which he replied, “Vietnam, ma’am.” Her directions were precise, then ordered the halt of her chariot, whereupon she placed flowers at a gravestone where under the name was engraved, ‘USMC; France 1918’. Then in the WWII section more flowers at a stone engraved, ‘USMC; 1943’ and at a nearby stone marked ‘USMC; 1944’. “Where’s the Vietnam section? I’ve seemed to have lost my way” she searched looking all around. “I’ll get you there in short order ma’am” the Marine assured her. Then, recognizing her surroundings, she placed flowers at two more gravesites, one marked ‘USMC; 1968’ and the other, ‘USMC; 1970’. Her guide inquired as to her relationship to all these Marines. She informed the soldier, “One was my father, one my uncle, one my husband and the other two, my sons, all killed in action, all Marines.” After returning her to her car, he radioed Kevin to go to the ‘out’ gate immediately; there was something they had to do. He ran across the field to the gate where they were to meet hoping he would get there before the Cadillac. Just in time, he and Kevin stood at attention, in full dress uniforms on either side of the gate, and presented a perfect salute. She drove through the gate with two old worn-out soldiers giving her the send-off she deserved, for service rendered to her country, and for knowing duty, honor and sacrifice. Memorial Day is for remembering and honoring

[Luke 22: 19; 1 Corinthians 11: 23-25] In Christianity every first day of the week, commonly referred to as the Lord’s day, is memorial day. Christians partake of the ‘Lord’s supper’, or ‘commune with the Lord’ in remembrance of what Jesus has done for us. He gave his life as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind that through Jesus (John 13:6) we receive the grace of God which will save our soul from everlasting punishment. Grace is hard to explain, but here’s a good acrostic. GRACE: God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Without Christ we have no forgiveness of sin and it is only in Christ we can receive the grace of God; not through our works or negotiating power (Ephesians 2:1-10). Jesus gave his life to set us free from sin. Patriotic men and women of our great country have given their life for the freedoms we enjoy. If we ever forget that we are “One Nation Under God”, then we will be a nation gone under.